Product description

The writings in this volume cast a glimmer of light upon the emerging traditions and organization of the infant church, during an otherwise little-known period of its development. A selection of letters and small-scale theological treatises from a group known as the Apostolic Fathers, several of whom were probably disciples of the Apostles, they provide a first-hand account of the early Church and outline a form of early Christianity still drawing on the theology and traditions of its parent religion, Judaism. Included here are the first "Epistle of Bishop Clement of Rome", an impassioned plea for harmony; "The Epistle of Polycarp"; "The Epistle of Barnabas"; "The Didache"; and, the Seven Epistles written by Ignatius of Antioch - among them his moving appeal to the Romans that they grant him a martyr's death.

Author information

Maxwell Staniforth also edited Marcus Aurelius' Meditations for the Penguin Classics. Andrew Louth is Professor of Byzantine studies in the Department of Theology at the University of Durham. Maxwell Staniforth also edited Marcus Aurelius' Meditations for the Penguin Classics. Andrew Louth is Professor of Byzantine studies in the Department of Theology at the University of Durham.

Table of contents

Translated by Maxwell Staniforth
Revised Translation, Introductions and New Editorial Material by Andrew Louth
General Introduction
General Bibliography
Note on the Text
The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
The Epistles of Ignatius
To the Ephesians
To the Magnesians
To the Trallians
To the Romans
To the Philadelphians
To the Smyrnaeans
To the Polycarp
The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians and The Martyrdom of Polycarp
The Epistle to Diognetus
The Epistle of Barnabas
The Didache
Map of Ignatius's route